Americans on the European Front :Americans on the European Front WWI America Saves France


Questions For Thought :Questions For Thought How did the United States prepare to fight in WWI? In what ways did American troops help turn the tide of war? What were conditions like in Europe and in the United States at the end of the war?


Moving Toward War :Moving Toward War Building an Army The “preparedness movement” is all the U.S. had to prepare for war Small military Congress passes Selective Service Act; May of 1917 American Expeditionary Force (AEF); draftees, volunteers, and National Guardsmen General John J. Pershing (Leader)


Moving Toward War (2) :Moving Toward War (2) Training for war American and British lecturers served as trainers in new and expanded training camps across the U.S. The U.S. planned to train soldiers for several months The need to move troops to Europe quickly sometimes cut training time short


Convoy System and Americans in Europe :Convoy System and Americans in Europe The Convoy Systems Groups of unarmed ships surrounded by armed naval vessels equipped to track and destroy submarines Used to transport troops across the Atlantic When the Convoy was in place, German submarines did not sink a single ship carrying American Troops


Convoy System and Americans in Europe (2) :Convoy System and Americans in Europe (2) American Soldiers in Europe By 1918 European nations had begun to run out of men to recruit Energetic American “Doughboys” (soldiers), helped to replace the tired European fighters African American troops were segregated, even though high in number African American troops were often relegated to noncombat roles


Turning Tide of War :Turning Tide of War New methods of military transportation, including: tanks, airplanes, and German zeppelins, or floating air ships, influenced the manner in which the war was fought Spring of 1918, Germany provided safe passage for Vladimir Lenin from Switzerland to Russia Lenin the leader of the Russian Bolsheviks successfully overthrew the Russian republican government and made peace with Germany


Turning Tide of War (2) :Turning Tide of War (2) The truce provided valuable Russian land to Germany With troops freed up from war with Russia the Germans gained ground in France just prior to Doughboy arrival Germany transfers all attention towards France Germany gets within 50 miles of Paris before U.S soldiers get to Europe


Turning Tide of War (3) :Turning Tide of War (3) General Pershing’s Troops, were able to repel the Germans in a series of battles (Page 427) Meuse-Argonne Offensive German troops driven to full retreat Started September 26, 1918 U.S. helps to save Paris


Ending of the War :Ending of the War Kaiser of Germany fled to Holland Civilian representative of the German republic signed an armistice (cease fire) French railroad car: 5am on November 11, 1918 Guns fell silent but the war was still causing deaths


Influenza Epidemic :Influenza Epidemic It only took six hours for guns to stop being fired The lasting affects of the war killed more Europeans and Americans than the casualties during the war An Influenza Epidemic sealed the fate of Americans who were at home and returning veterans


Results of WWI :Results of WWI Estimated Death Toll 8 million soldiers and civilians, including tens of thousands of Americans Many others had lost limbs or been blinded by poison gas Red Cross This agency along with others helped to save many lives


Results of WWI (2) :Results of WWI (2) Loss of young men It was a common notion that the war had taken an entire generation of young men, losing many talents and capabilities Armenian Genocide There was an organized killing of suspected “disloyal” Armenians by the Ottoman Empire


Question to Ponder :Question to Ponder What would have happened had the U.S. not intervened in WWI? Put a two to three sentence answer on loose paper with your name and pass it to the front of the row.